How quickly things change. Nine days ago, the Sox were arriving in Texas on the heels of a six-game winning streak. Red Sox nation was flush with excitement after a doubleheader sweep of Tampa Bay.

The came the storm. Not the three hours of hail and rain that fell on the Sox and Rangers in Arlington, Texas. I’m talking about the you-know-what storm that hit the fan after Pedro Martinez stopped throwing pitches and started throwing a fit.

It’s clear that Pedro isn’t feeling the love. He’s won 104 games for the Sox, and has been the ace of the staff since he arrived in 1998. Despite that, you had to know this was going to be a strange year.

For one thing, Martinez was coming into the final year of his contract. Last year, he demanded that his extension for 2004 be picked up in spring training some seven months before Sox management had to make a decision on that option. What did they get in return?

They got a pitcher who wanted a whole new contract. An ace who was feeling jilted by the lack of security.

Suddenly, Pedro wasn’t the man. He had to sit around and watch the Sox pour the love on to Curt Schilling. He watched Schilling do commercial after commercial, watched him appear in billboards for the team.

It’s simple human nature to get a little upset when “the new guy” comes in and becomes the belle of the ball. Ever been there before? Work your butt off at the office, but your efforts get put on the back burner as everyone pays attention to the new, rising star.

That said, the Red Sox will have paid Martinez more than $100 million dollars when this season is through. Pedro is the highest paid pitcher in the game. No one wants to hear him complain about a new contract. Pedro doesn’t have to negotiate during the season if he doesn’t want to. He can shop his services to the highest bidder after this season is through. He can wear pinstripes, go to L.A., or even go back to the Dominican Republic and never work a day again.

What he can’t do is spend the season fretting over next year. He can’t hold a monthly press conference to tell everyone how disrespected he feels. There’s just too much on the line. He’s been paid too much, and this team is too good, to look beyond 2004. He has gotten plenty of respect from the team, the fans, and teammates.

Don’t insult us. Just pitch.

And pitch well. Those six earned runs you gave up in four innings of work against the Rangers didn’t help your argument very well. The first inning in Cleveland had Red Sox Nation holding its breath. After that, Pedro settled down and reminded us just how good he can be. The Sox will need him to be that pitcher to keep up with the new guy, Schilling to get where they want to go this season.

Lewiston native Tom Caron covers the Red Sox for NESN.

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